I like babywearing - it keeps Mister G happy and close (and - as I become a crazy person who is already wistful at how fast he is growing at SIX MONTHS. Eesh. - I like being way up in his space) as well as pretty much constituting my main mode of exercise. If you don't count the running. Which, since we've not been for ...oh, a month, I'm not sure I'm allowed to count.
Plus, look! no hands!
We've retired the Baby Bjorn but I still use my Moby wrap (Yes, it is essentially just a long piece of fabric. But I got it when I was pregnant and still very much in the throes of Baby Dropping Fear and this long piece of fabric is officially sanctioned for carrying a baby! - and also really comfortable and several hundred pounds cheaper than a pushchair, so: still a win).
We took the pushchair to Sicily, but didn't fancy attempting to manoeuvre it on and off the buses and trams we needed to get to the beach at Pace. (Peace. Yep. Nice, huh? As an aside, I still regret not insisting on stopping for a photo the very first time I visited Sicily and drove through a town called 'Purgatorio'.)
So, after a quick google search, I found this super simple video tutorial on how to fashion a sling from a single bed sheet, and le voila:
I felt so absurdly proud of myself (even more so when I remembered how to retie it all for the journey home). So self-sufficient! and thrifty! It's pretty comfortable and so easy and free - totally recommend.
Now we are home I want to repurpose the old bedsheets we have under our bed with a bit of dye. That and buy some fancy new fabric... (ooh, Marimekko?). Better start with the bed sheet.
Plus, look! no hands!
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| first time wrapper |
We took the pushchair to Sicily, but didn't fancy attempting to manoeuvre it on and off the buses and trams we needed to get to the beach at Pace. (Peace. Yep. Nice, huh? As an aside, I still regret not insisting on stopping for a photo the very first time I visited Sicily and drove through a town called 'Purgatorio'.)
So, after a quick google search, I found this super simple video tutorial on how to fashion a sling from a single bed sheet, and le voila:
I felt so absurdly proud of myself (even more so when I remembered how to retie it all for the journey home). So self-sufficient! and thrifty! It's pretty comfortable and so easy and free - totally recommend.
Now we are home I want to repurpose the old bedsheets we have under our bed with a bit of dye. That and buy some fancy new fabric... (ooh, Marimekko?). Better start with the bed sheet.
pics from my phone
that bit about the moby thing being an officially sactioned bit of baby-carrying fabric is exactly why I never quite worked up the bottle to make my own sling. Instead I stuck with the bjorn, which although uncomfortable as all hell, is totally technical looking and therefore SAFE.
ReplyDeleteEXACTLY. It even looks like body armour from behind.
DeleteWait, you bjorned twins?! I am pretty much awed by the thought of having two babies, let alone the logistics required to mobilise them.
I still succumb to the first time parent marketing machine more than I'd like though
But a Bjorn isn't that safe, they can cause hip displasia (sp?) because they don't properly support baby (should go knee to knee and have bum slightly lower than knees) and baby should NEVER be worn facing out because baby isn't properly support and they have to hold their back funny AND they are left completely exposed to the elements (this goes for toddlers too). If worn properly (look up babywearers international and find a baby wearing group or check out "baby wearing faith" or "wrapping rachel" on youtube.com) a woven wrap or other carrier is safer for mom and baby. There are so many options out there that are better for mom, baby and wallet: mei tai (check out baby hawks), ring sling, woven wrap (in different sizes), soft structured carrier (similar to Bjorn but better and comfier), pods, the list goes on. Mobys are great but only up to about 10 or 15 lbs then they can't support the weight...and they're HOT. If you like the Moby check out woven wraps. With the bed sheet pic (awesome BTW) you basically made a reboozo (ring sling is similar) which is a short woven wrap. Look at Baby wearing faith's video on "how to get a good seat" to be sure you are getting the most comfort and safety for you and baby.
DeleteHappy baby wearing!
Hi Darlene, thanks for your comment. You're right - I wish I had known that about bjorns when I first had G and knew next to nothing about babywearing. Happily it seems to be increasingly common here and I see a lot more ergo baby type carriers around London now. I really liked the wrap style of my moby and so, when G grew too big and wriggly for it, I invested in a didymos wrap which I still use with him now as a large 13month old. Not cheap, but good quality and I wanted one produced in Europe.
DeleteNow if only I could master a back carry... ;)
Yeah, but it was a 'one baby each' kind of situation, unfortunately I didn't know you could buy holdalls to put them in http://tinyurl.com/dyec9nu
ReplyDeleteGenius. For the Successful Multitasking BusinessMom I presume.
ReplyDeleteThe next logical step must be the DIY baby bag, no? http://bit.ly/I00myL
(I had kind of imagined a one front / one back deal - like a sandwich board)